INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The iconic and wildly popular Savannah Bananas are expanding their Banana Ball Championship League to include a team in Indianapolis.
The team will be called the Indianapolis Clowns — playing homage to the original Indianapolis Clowns team that was a part of the history Negro League in the 1940s and 50s.
The Bananas will also return to Indy’s Victory Field Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16.
Banana Ball made the announcement in their home city of Savannah, Georgia, Thursday night and posted the following to social media:
The Indianapolis Clowns were pioneers when it came to baseball and entertainment. They were the greatest barnstorming baseball team for over 50 years and one of the first barnstorming teams to travel the country playing in ballparks of all sizes. They paved the way by entertaining fans in a different way on a baseball field, and we are thrilled to be able to honor and pay tribute to their legacy.
We are proud to partner with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to help preserve the history of the Indianapolis Clowns and bring their legacy to fans all over the country.
“When I first heard the story of the Indianapolis Clowns, I was inspired,” said Owner Jesse Cole. “They were the first baseball team to put entertainment first and would go to great lengths to bring their style of baseball to fans all over the country.”
“We’ve always shared a similar vision and mission: To make baseball fun, put the fans first, and entertain always. Partnering with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to bring the Clowns to millions of fans all over the country and preserve their legacy is a dream come true.”
The Clowns had some of the greatest showmen and showwomen to ever play the game. From Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, and Goose Tatum to Toni Stone, Mamie Peanut Johnson, and Connie Morgan, we plan to honor them and celebrate these legends every night.
“The rebirth of the Indianapolis Clowns is an exciting and historically relevant tribute to the team that was at the forefront of combining baseball and entertainment,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues. “Our partnership is a tremendous opportunity to not only entertain, but educate fans about the rich history of the Negro Leagues while paying homage to the team that helped influence Banana Ball.”
The team will be led by head coach Errick Fox, who first joined the Savannah Bananas coaching staff in 2018. He’ll be coaching alongside the Clowns’ Primetime coach, a World Series champion from the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Howard.
“Banana Ball is all about energy, entertainment, flipping the script — and you know what? That’s exactly what the Negro Leagues brought to the game from day one. Flash. Innovation. Community and an unconditional love for the game. They were rockstars before the world called ballplayers that,” said Howard.
The Clowns were the most entertaining team of their time, and we believe they were built for our entertaining sport of Banana Ball. We hope the story of the Indianapolis Clowns will inspire millions of fans in the years to come.
